Eric walked down the hallway of the second-year building, parting ways with Wayne. The boy with glasses had apparently been placed in Class A thanks to his aptitude for magic theory, while Eric was in Class D, moving up one level from his previous class, Class E.
It turned out that every year, classes were shuffled based on the students' performance throughout the school year and their Final Exam results. Eric found this out after receiving a letter from the Academy, specifically three days before his departure.
Eric felt he had done well on his Final Exam, he was in the middle of the rank, meaning he wasn't at the top nor at the very bottom. Turning right, he finally stopped after finding his new classroom. Taking a breath, he pushed open the classroom door and entered his new class.
The students who had arrived before him toned down their conversation after seeing him enter. Some of them gave him outright suspicious looks, while the rest looked at him skeptically.
"Why's he here?"
"D-don't know… m-maybe he wants to pick a fight with someone…?"
"This is the worst…"
Eric was his usual self, he completely ignored their chatter and took the seat at the very back. Placing his bag on the desk, he plopped down while thinking about something. While he was walking around downtown, he had come across news about a letter from Millie.
He didn't have time to read it yesterday because he was exhausted, so he decided to put it in his bag for the time being. Opening his bag, he took out a white envelope with a simple wax seal. He gently broke the seal and took out the letter, reading it quickly.
Mr. Gehrman, I hope this letter finds you well.
Grandma is doing fine, there's no need to worry. My father and I are taking turns looking after her, just as you instructed.
If anything, her disability hasn't affected her daily activities at all, she continues to make candy as usual and teaches me about herbs.
We also coordinate with them whenever we need help, and a few times my father or I have gone on adventures with them.
That's all for now. We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards.
A slight sense of relief washed over Eric, he was still worried about Grandma Seeva's condition after she lost her sight. But it turned out the old woman was still healthy, and there hadn't even been any significant changes to her lifestyle.
"Props to you, Millie." Eric was pleased with Millie's performance, especially how she included his codename—"Gehrman"—in their correspondence. Eric didn't want to take any risks when contacting his allies, so he used that alias.
Making a mental note to burn this letter after school, Eric carefully tucked the letter back into his bag and focused on the classroom. He snorted when he saw the same scene even though he was now in his second year—the commoners and nobles gathered according to their social classes.
Some nobles in the class looked at the commoners with disdain, and the commoners tried to stay strong by lifting their heads proudly. His morning musings were interrupted when he saw two people enter his classroom.
A dashing, handsome man accompanied by an innocent yet beautiful girl, Leon and Anna entered the classroom. The commoners cheered upon seeing the two, making the nobles even angrier, though they managed to hold it in.
Eric grumbled at their childish behavior. "I can understand if they're jealous of Leon or Anna's looks, but when it comes to things like social status…" he dismissed the thought, acknowledging it was just a matter of perspective since he came from a different world with a different set of norms.
Leon and Anna greeted their friends, and when they turned their gaze to the upper row, they were surprised to see Eric there. He just rolled his eyes, choosing to pull out a book and start reading it.
The two of them exchanged glances then chose to sit down as a professor entered the classroom and was about to begin the lesson. Soon after, the lesson began. Eric attended several classes until late noon. That day's classes ended earlier than usual, and Eric was relaxing on a park bench shaded by lush trees.
It was supposed to be an uneventful day, but that was proven wrong when he felt the plants and trees around him moving strangely. He stood up, staring sharply at his surroundings. Eric was baffled when a plant root slithered onto the bench he had been sitting on, carrying a letter that was simply placed there. The root then retracted as if nothing had happened.
Eric grew suspicious and did nothing with the letter for a moment. "Is this some elaborate prank by those brats…?" he muttered irritably, picking up the letter once he felt it was safe.
He could smell the soothing scent of flowers and petrichor, he took a good look at the letter that bore Zeris Academy insignia, then turned it aside.
To Eric Ostheno, a second-year student in Class D.
The back of the letter simply read that. Eric furrowed his brow but remained slightly curious about its contents. He tore open the letter, causing him to groan loudly after skimming through the contents.
To the intended recipient, Eric Ostheno.
I respectfully request your presence in the Principal's office, located in the center of Zeris Academy.
I would like to discuss several matters, especially regarding your circumstances and your standing, which I feel would be best addressed together.
....
....
"Bah! Really!?" Eric raised his hands in surrender. The gist of the letter was that Principal Veronica had summoned Eric to her office to discuss something. He could visit her office anytime during the spring, but the sooner the better.
Eric shoved the letter roughly into his bag, then thought deeply. "Today's plan? Nothing. A duel? So far, no. Meaning I'm totally free today." Hands on his hips, he finally decided to visit the elf woman today, right this very moment, because he also felt that the sooner this matter was settled, the better.
He began his reluctant steps toward the principal's office, heading straight there without any detours or delays. As he passed the student council building, Eric saw a large crowd gathered, shouting loudly. He slowed his pace, faintly hearing the chants from those people.
"We want justice!!"
"Justice!!"
"The freedom to learn like the nobles!!"
"Freedom to learn!!"
He resumed his steps while thinking. Apparently, there had just been a protest by the commoner students. The Academy allowed freedom of speech, but he was skeptical that the Academy would blindly comply with the commoners' demands.
"Because the biggest donors come from the nobles..."
He shook his head and refocused on his own business. Finally, he found a path leading to the principal's office, which, for some reason, was surrounded by dense trees.
According to the history of Zeris Academy, past principals have been unique and somewhat eccentric individuals, the building housing the principal's office has been remodeled repeatedly to suit their tastes. This time, since the principal is of the elf race, she requested that natural elements and greenery be incorporated around the building.
The cool air caressed his face, and the distinctive scent of damp trees somehow brought him a sense of calm. He was truly puzzled, because the scale of these lush trees resembled a forest more than a garden.
As he walked far enough, Eric began to sense something was amiss. The trees around him seemed to be closing in on him, towering and obscuring his view of the distance ahead or the sky above.
He finally realized he should have already reached the Principal's building, yet he hadn't arrived yet. Either he was lost or something was afoot here.
"No Mana disturbance…" Eric sensed no Mana interference or anyone attempting to ambush him. "A greater… if not a powerful spell…"
"If detecting Mana becomes unreliable… fine, then."
Eric calmed himself and opened his other eyes. The world became an endless stream of information to him, he could see everything in detail. Insects, leaves, even flows of Mana... he could grasp their shape and form.
He wasn't fully accustomed to the overwhelming information flooding his eyes and brain, especially when it came to sorting out what was important. After a few moments, he was able to adapt and began to look around.
How surprised he was when he found a thick yet vague outline of Mana flowing in an organized manner. The Mana current was quite thick and potent, yet at the same time felt very thin, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for Eric to compare it to air.
"An illusion..." Eric finally realized what was strange about his surroundings. Apparently, someone had cast a powerful illusion spell around the Principal's office. He was certain that anyone who came here would be lost and confused for hours, blinded by the illusion surrounding them.
"But not for me." Using the natural ability of the All-Seeing Eyes of God, he could see through the illusion, allowing him to see the truth and find his way to the Principal's building.
The true path to the Principal's building turned out to be quite unique. Like a maze, Eric walked back and forth until he finally arrived in front of the Principal's building. Compared to the other buildings at Zeris Academy, the Principal's building was relatively small, consisting of only two floors.
Eric entered the building, slightly confused by the lack of security. Along the corridor, he could see the portraits of former Principals of Zeris Academy. Some of them were outright stereotypes—bearded, old men and a few elderly women wearing elaborate mage robes.
At the end of the row of portraits, he saw the portrait of Veronica, the current Principal. The image exuded grace and a gentle appearance, quite captivating, as if one were looking at a well-known celebrity.
Then Eric turned right, and after walking a few steps, he arrived at a massive double door labeled 'Principal Veronica Maciel'. With an annoyed expression, he walked in without knocking, grumbling to himself, hoping his business here would be over quickly.
"Ehh nooo~ don't wanna~"
Eric was stunned when he was greeted by a woman leaning against a massive desk while complaining. Beside her stood a middle-aged man holding some papers and massaging his head—a man he recognized as the Vice Principal.
"Principal Veronica, please reconsider this. The situation at the Academy is getting worse, the noble and commoner students are now openly hostile toward each other. If it isn't handled immediately—"
"Tsk. It's always the nobles, isn't it...~! Ever since I took office as Principal 50 years ago, they've always demanded something outrageous. Expel all commoner students? What kind of madman would go along with that...~?"
"I agree," said the middle-aged man with a sigh. "That's why we need to find a middle ground. The quickest and most efficient way is for you to go to the nobles to ease the tension, then to the commoner student representatives to calm them down."
Veronica sprawled out and whined in a spoiled tone. "Hahhh~ Even if I go, both sides will ask for more… I'm sure of it!"
"Then do you have another solution—"
The Vice Principal suddenly turned to Eric and widened his eyes. Eric just raised his hand casually, greeting the Vice Principal as if he were his buddy. The middle-aged man straightened his back and spoke to Veronica.
"Principal Veronica, Eric Ostheno is here."
"Hmm? Nice joke~! There's no way he's here already. You know there's an illusion spell around the building that makes people feel lost...~?"
"Listen. He's standing right here." He gently rebuked her, but Veronica still didn't believe him. "Ahaha~! There's no way anyone could break through my illusion that quickly~ I estimated he'd arrive in two more hours..."
She continued while leaning on the table, "It must have been the janitor or one of the professors who already knows the route here by memory.~" The elf woman's words went unanswered, and only silence filled the room.
Veronica, seeing the Vice Principal's serious expression, slowly lifted her head and straightened her body, which had been leaning against the table. Her eyes widened when she saw a young blonde man standing there with his arms crossed.
"Tsk, tsk."
Eric just shook his head and clicked his tongue at Veronica's behavior just now. Then Veronica's face quickly turned beet red and she became flustered, struggling to regain her composure.